The wolf spokeswoman stood. “You’ve killed them all?”
“All but two. We will hunt them down in the morning. Come.”
A palpable sense of relief settled over the women and Aodhan took the first steps toward the van.
****
Mallory fought the urge to pace beside the bed where Barlaam and Thaddeus leaned over Becca. Mickey’s hand was wrapped around Mallory’s holding her in place as they waited for the diagnosis.
Finally, Barlaam stood and looked at them. “She’s going to be fine. She’s a fully turned Lupoiux female. An alpha at that. She should be back on her feet in a few days.”
The man Matthuin fell to his knees beside the bed. “Thank the goddess.”
Mallory wiped the tears from her cheeks as Mickey hugged her. “She’s going to be ok, Mickey.”
“It’s incredibly rare for a Lupoiux female to be able to change. That she can especially at such a young age speaks well for her recovery,” Thaddeus added. “It’s very curious.”
“Not considering her uncle and brother are both alphas. And that her mate is an alpha as well as a Dardaptoan Equan,” Barlaam said.
“She’s been changing on command for three days. She just did it, without me showing her how but once. The wolf runs strong in her. It is beautiful.” Matthuin cradled her close, his touch so reverent he won Mallory’s loyalty just by the way he was looking at her baby sister.
One thing she had to say about Dardaptoans, they loved their mates. The males practically worshiped the females.
All at once she was flooded with the need to see Aodhan. To reassure herself he was fine.
Almost as if someone knew what she was thinking a knock sounded on the door and Cormac and Josey walked in.
Cormac nodded to Mallory after inquiring about Rebecca. “Your Rajni has returned. We’re on our way to the lobby to help Milendo sort out any of the Lupoiux who need medical care. Thought you might want to join Aodhan?”
Mallory didn’t have to be asked twice.
****
Aodhan was surrounded by frightened women and children, and Mallory paused just inside the lobby to study him. He was definitely a leader among his people. Strong, but with a reassuring presence. Beautiful.
He held a small child in his arms, the pose natural on him. He saw her and his face relaxed. He handed the baby to the girl next to him and walked through the crowd that parted for him. Mallory met him half way.
He had blood on him, again. Was she going to have to get used to seeing him this way? “You’re filthy.”
“Yes. But the mess isn’t mine. I need a shower.” His hand tangled in her hair. “How is your sister?”
“Becca will be fine. She’s resting now. Nothing like what happened to Josey.” Mallory looked around the group of women and children. “How many did you find out there?”
“Two dozen, even. A few of the women are very close to delivering their pups. What about the other girl? How is she? Who is she?”
“Jade is sitting with her. We’re not entirely sure who she is. She’s been ill; no one can figure out exactly what it is she suffers from yet. And she has been bitten. She’s unconscious now, but Barlaam thinks she’ll wake soon.” Mallory ran her hands down his chest, testing for injuries herself. “You’re not hurt anywhere?”
“Not at all. This was but a brief skirmish. I had more of a battle with your brother than these thirty or so wolves. Pitiful on their part. You are in one piece? They did not scratch or bite you?”
“Not a scratch on me. I told you I can take care of myself when needed.”
“I know. You were beautiful tonight. But that does not mean that I want my female needing to defend herself.” His hands slipped around her waist and he lifted her up. Mallory knew what he wanted, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He kissed her, hard. “Come, let’s go to our suite. Amaia and the rest can get our guests handled. You and I, we have need of each other.”
Mallory knew what he meant, and she smiled. “Do we?”
“You know we do, woman. Do not tease me, so.”
Chapter Forty-Nine
Mallory slept late the next morning, worn from the events of the night before. Aodhan lay watching her for several long moments after he woke. His female was more than perfect she was beautiful, strong, and a fighter. Everything he had dreamed of and more. The Goddess had definitely known what she was doing when she gave him his Mallory.
He brushed her mouth with his, then smiled when she hummed and rolled toward him. Sleepy green eyes opened. “Hi. Going somewhere?”
“Hmm. Yes. I have to speak with Rydere about what I learned last night.”
“And what did you learn last night that can be shared?” Her hands brushed his chest and she nipped his neck lightly. His female loved to feed from him, and Aodhan loved giving her what she wanted.
“Quit that.” He covered one hand with his. “You’re distracting me.”
“That is my intention.” She pushed the blanket back and sat up, completely comfortable with her nudity, with her body, scars and all. What had changed in her since yesterday? Aodhan was certain something had. “As I’m sure this pertains to my family, somehow, I’m coming with you.”
Aodhan had suspected as much. It was why he had wanted to slip away while she slept. It would take some getting used to, her not appreciating him protecting her from the harsher side of their life. But he’d realized something last night watching her battle the Lupoiux scum.
His female had every right to protect herself and to fight when it mattered. He would not want his warrior female to be helpless, defenseless, in their world. It was not right of him to not give her the respect she was entitled to.
But that did not mean it would be easy for him, every time.
“There is a bounty on your head. On every relative you have. Someone offered a quarter of a million for each female in your family. One hundred thousand for the males. All of them.”
“Even the kids? Jace and Dylan and Ethan are just teenagers.” Her playful flirtation was gone and she grabbed her clothing quickly. “Why? When?”
“That’s what I am going to discuss with Rydere. And your brother and cousins. We need to trace this threat quickly. See whether it originates with Dardaptoans or with some other Kind. Until it’s settled, no one in your family is completely safe. Your brother was having his men bring the rest of your family here today. Our numbers are great enough to ensure proper protection. For all except your grandfather. He will be jailed as soon as he is brought here.”
“What about the rest of the people on the properties we own? We have staff that we care about. Claudette and Abel and...”
“Your cousin and uncle are making accommodations for them. You also need to face the possibility that the threat may be internal.”
She dressed twice as quickly as he did, then darted into the bathroom to brush her teeth and hair. She peeked out the door at him as he spoke. “Our people have been with us for years. Do you think that if there was someone with that kind of hatred for us, Rand, Uncle Jason, or even Rathan would not have detected it? Jade certainly would have. She’s got some sort of people radar.”
“The demon would have. Even the wolves, maybe.” Aodhan pulled his vestis over his head as he answered. He stood and joined her in the bathroom. “But someone, somewhere has been organizing this attack against your family. Is it a coincidence that a pack of Lupoiux were near your family’s properties at the same time that the Dardaptoan Equa of Houses was threatened? Or are the two somehow related?”
She sat the brush down on the granite counter and looked at him in the mirror. “There’s a traitor among your Kind and someone wants my entire family dead. At the exact same time that we found each other. That adds up for me.”
“The two are related. We just need to figure out how.”
“We need to see who would have the greatest reason to want my family especially my female family members dead. Who would gain the most? Because I doubt it’s about
ascending to some Dardaptoan throne. It sounds more like revenge to me.”
“Someone who wants revenge against the Taniss family, who would attack the women and children, too. It must be a pretty sophisticated grudge.”
“Someone who feels we wronged them completely. Who would that be?”
Aodhan ran it through his mind. “One thousand eight hundred eighty-seven people were killed by your grandfather’s hands or by his people. Each of those victims had a family, who may hold a pretty significant grudge.”
“We’ll never find them. Not if we have to go through every victim’s family looking.”
“So we start with the ones who had firsthand experience with your grandfather or Albert Boltier.”
“Ick. That man is a sick bastard, through and through. I’ve never liked him.” Mallory turned and leaned against the bathroom counter. “So who first? Who suffered the most at Grandfather’s hands?”
“Other than Kindara and Jierra, who we know have nothing to do with this threat, that leaves only one name.” And Aodhan was far from eager to name him.
“Who?”
“Nalik Black. Kindara’s brother-in-law. Nalik was with Kindara and lost his brother and sister to your grandfather. Your grandfather and Boltier personally tortured Nalik repeatedly, then forced him to watch as his young sister bled to death. It isn’t pretty what was done to him, Mallory. And something inside of him is fractured.”
“Fractured enough to put a hit out on twenty-something people, including a twelve-year-old boy?”
“I don’t like to think so. But I think we should start there.”
“Ok. Where do we find this Nalik? And does he know that you are with me, or that the others are also with Tanisses?”
“I don’t know if he knows about the Taniss females. That could have been what pushed him over the edge. And we’ll need to speak with the rest of his family to find out where he is. That is something I had best do without you, kitten. His mother...she is not well. Not since she lost Iavius and Erastine.”
His Rajni nodded. “I can understand that. Would she even know where he was?”
“Yes. He is the Equan of the Black House. He is still required to help rule his people. A Dardaptoan does not step away from that responsibility for anything.”
“Then we can speak with him sometime today?”
“We will. But you will promise me that you will stay safe. I will take you with me if I get your word.”
“I promise. You know I don’t want to get hurt anymore than you want me to. I’m not going to do anything stupid or dangerous, but when the need arises, I will defend myself.”
“I know. And that is all I ask of you.”
“And you’ll make the same promise? You won’t go out looking for trouble?”
“That is kind of my job description, but I can promise to be careful. I want to come home to you, Rajni. You are a greater draw than any battle ever could be.”
****
He left her with Cormac’s female after their discussion with Dhar Rydere and his Rajni. He, Dhar Rydere, and Cormac would interview the Black House personally. Aodhan wasn’t looking forward to it. These people were his friends, especially Nalik. They had played together as boys and had traveled to the New
World together more than five hundred years ago. Two hundred years later, Nalik’s brother, mother, and father had joined them. Aodhan considered them family. The thought that Nalik might have ordered the massive destruction of his female’s family sickened him though Aodhan understood Nalik’s thirst for revenge. Nalick’s family had been shattered that day.
Nalik’s mother Sarisha met them at the door to the Black House. She appeared elderly, pain and grief and Aodhan suspected madness aging her more than a Dardaptoan usually aged. Aodhan had great sympathy for her, for what and who she had lost. Her Rajni Petr stood at her side, faithfully guarding her.
“Come in. Sit down.” The elder male nodded toward the black couch in the sitting area. Aodhan frowned as he studied it. It was worn, more than it should have been. The entire suite was shabby. Filthy, with a layer of dust and dirt visible. “What is this about?”
“We come in search of Nalik.”
“The boy is gone. Haven’t seen him in months. Three or four. He’s working on a new project that has him fired up.” Sarisha’s tone was cold, indifferent. Aodhan wondered at it. “Don’t know what. And these damned servants will not tell me.”
The servants in question were one lone girl, less than fifty in age, standing at attention in the corner of the room. Aodhan didn’t recognize her. She looked unhealthy, underfed, even neglected. She refused to meet his eyes.
“What do you want?” Sarisha asked, sinking down into a threadbare and filthy chair.
“Nalik. How do we contact him if he is not here?” Rydere spoke to her using the tone of the Dhar. She dared not show him disrespect.
“Ask Cerian. Has a bit of a crush on him, she does.” She nodded in the servant’s direction. The girl, whom Aodhan assumed was Cerian, flushed. “Not that anything will ever come of it, of course. Son of mine is useless that way and is her damned cousin, even.”
“Regardless of your personal feelings about your son, madam, he is the Head of your House and you will show him, and me, the respect that title deserves. Now, Cerian, if you will join me in the hallway, I have some questions for you.” Aodhan gave no one an option. And no one would dare defy him. Not with Rydere next to him. All feared the three of them when they were together.
The servant girl kept her eyes lowered as she followed him and Rydere into the hallway. Respectfully, or because of fear? Aodhan wondered. Cormac stayed inside with the parents of his dead brother-in-law. “Girl, tell me. Where is the Equan of this House?”
“He is near Ft. Collins. He spends much time there. I don’t know what he does there. I can get you the address. He doesn’t know I have it. I found it in his papers when I was cleaning.” She practically whispered the words, her gaze darting back toward the suite door. “If she knew, I would be in trouble.”
“How long has he been gone?” Aodhan asked.
“This time? Four weeks. He was home the day after the new Rajnis arrived and everyone was celebrating.” She looked guilty for telling them, and Aodhan felt a rush of pity for her.
“And before that?” Rydere’s tone told Aodhan he too noticed how pitiful the girl was.
“Four months. He’s rarely here, my Dhar. I think it depresses him to be reminded of Erastine. Her mother kept her room just like she left it. And she makes us go in there with her all the time.” She covered her mouth, a look of intense guilt hitting her face.
Aodhan knew he’d get no more from her. “Cerian. If you wish it, I can find you a position within my own House. You are not required to stay here. You know that, right?”
She lowered her head. “But she has been so good to me. She took me in when my parents died twenty years ago. I’m all they have.”
“I see.” And Aodhan did. The years of neglect that she had no doubt been subjected to had left an impression on her. He’d revised his estimation of her age, putting her at no more than thirty-five. Young. He would have to do his best to get her out of Sarisha’s hands. “When you change your mind, you come to me.”
She stared at him a moment, then swallowed. “Thank you...You need to know...I shouldn’t tell...it’s disloyal...”
“Cerian, nothing you tell your Dhar is disloyal. Not to tell me would be worse.” Rydere wrapped his hands around the girl’s shoulders and held her until she looked up at him.
“They hate them. All of them. Anyone with the name Taniss. Sarisha was so angry when you brought home your Rajnis. She fought and fought with Nalik. Told him he’d failed her and failed his brother and sister. It was horrible!” She shivered. “I don’t know what Nalik did after that.”
“Thank you,” Rydere and Aodhan said together. Aodhan continued. “Sarisha will be angry with you if you tell her what we’ve discussed. Can you keep it quiet?”
“Yes. They do not talk to me. Any of them. But they are all the family I have left...”
“Thank you. I will not forget your help.” Rydere bowed to her, the highest sign of respect a Dardaptoan could receive.
The three men walked back to the Green Room via the garden, quietly discussing what they had learned. Cormac put it best when he summed it up. “I hate to think of it, but it does not look good for Nalik. But with what happened to him and living with Sarisha I can almost understand it.”
Aodhan nodded. “Yes. Any but our Rajnis’ family and it would almost be acceptable.”
“If he’s the one responsible.” Rydere cursed after he said it. “If he is.”
“We’ll need to go to Ft. Collins to collect him. I’ll do it,” Cormac’s tone was grim. Aodhan did not envy him the task. “It might come easiest from me.”
“Good luck. I’ve figured out why the address Cerian gave us looks so familiar.” Aodhan crumbled the small piece of paper in his hand.
“Why?” Rydere asked as they rounded the damned grotto where Cormac’s Rajni was attacked.
“Because it’s the address of the Taniss Industries lab that Leo Taniss built fifteen years ago.”
“What in the nine hells is Nalik doing there?”
That was what Aodhan wanted answered, as well.
Chapter Fifty
Mallory wanted to talk to him the moment she saw him enter the lobby with Rydere and Cormac but with the arrival of her entire family and half the household staff, she couldn’t. She did manage to catch his eye and jerk her head. He understood the message, and quickly left the other two men and joined her.
“Daddy. This is Aodhan.” She got a perverse thrill at seeing Aodhan’s eyes widen and the nerves hit his face. The man was close to six hundred years old, and her father made him nervous?
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Taniss.” Aodhan held out his hand and shook her father’s without hesitation. Had he really gotten over the all Tanisses are bad mentality, just because of her? She thought so, and that pleased her. “Mallory, I take it everyone here is part of your family?”
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